Friday, June 3, 2011

Hearing Mr. Ramsey proudly declare “Everyone is on time!” was the perfect foreshadowing to what I’m now convinced will be a great year for both the Ivy League Connections and the students participating in it this program this year.

The library of the new and beautiful El Cerrito High School was packed with parents, students, chaperones, and other integral figures of the ILC. The Yalies congregated to the right side – the only group in a circle of chairs because all the tables to the left of us were already surrounded by students and parents that, for the most part, almost touched shoulders.

Amongst those integral figures that I mentioned earlier, I immediately noticed Mr. Ellis standing off to the side at my left. I recall a great series of conversations with him and Ms. Kim and was pleased to see him again at the orientation for I then became very curious to know why he was there. Eventually, sandwiched by alternating speeches of Mr. Ramsey/Ms. Kronenberg and Don, everyone in the room had their attention directed towards Mr. Ellis and his upcoming, budding idea – The Ivy League Connections Press.

This was not news to me because Mr. Ellis expressed great interest and enthusiasm of such a unique program being available to students in our district among our chats at the Yale dinner. “Wouldn’t it be something” I could still recall him say “for a junior or senior student in high school to graduate with a book already published?” I agreed with him back at the dinner and I continue to agree with him when he reiterated those very words to everyone at that orientation that very evening. I see potential in that program and am looking very forward to see its developments unfold in this upcoming year.

At break-out sessions, the Yalies discussed in more detail the general plans for the summer. Unlike emails, all the parents and students were able to physically interact with Lori, which proved to be a meeting long over-due. Our application forms for the YISP were due tomorrow and Lori was to take care of all the mailing for us. But, before we handed our packets of forms and papers to her, we all diligently looked over everything and bounced our confusions and questions off one another until everyone was on the same page with the completed forms. Although filling out all the forms did go a bit over our session and had also rolled into the final group meeting back at the library, I was very pleased that all three of us had all our forms filled and in Lori’s hands upon our departure from the El Cerrito High School library.

The orientation was informative and helpful. I thank Ms. Kronenberg for reminding all of us that this program was a gift but also a very expensive one with strings attached and responsibilities for each recipient of such a gift to uphold. I thank Mr. Ramsey for emphasizing the importance of following directions and reaching out to past ILC alumni that have been to our program(s) before for more information. Lastly, I also thank Don for making a very clear and concise repeat of essentially, the letter he sent to all us ILCers regarding borrowing certain items we may need at the East, and being so generous with his offers.

The long list of YISP reading still awaits me. Every day, I read as much as my schedule will allow so as to prevent any string of consecutive summer days to fall victim to nonstop reading. The last week of my junior year in high school is almost here and almost over; finals will eventually come to pass and I will happily enjoy its one-year absence once more. I am pleased that once school takes a break from being the center of attention in a matter of one more week, I’ll finally have the chance to spend a majority of June reading voraciously.

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About Us

We are a group of rising seniors representing the West Contra Costa Unified School District located in the San Francisco Bay Area. From July 24th through August 7th we will be participating in the rigorous Studies in Grand Strategies course as a part of Yale’s Ivy Scholars Program.

This intense course focuses on writing skills, advocacy, persuasion skills, and leadership. Only a selected group of high school students worldwide get the opportunity to learn from such a diverse and distinguished faculty as this program has to offer.

To quote from Yale’s designated website for this program: “This special academic and leadership development program is for extraordinarily capable individuals of strong character who know who they are, possess a strong desire to study strategy and leadership, and have a calling to someday serve at the very highest levels of government, business, public service, and education.”

Our group consists of three students: Tom Miller from El Cerrito High School, Matthew Lee from Pinole Valley High School, and Wing Tung (Dyana) So, also from Pinole Valley High.

Our Connections

MATTHEW LEE

Matt is a junior attending Pinole Valley High. During his free time, Matt likes to play video games, play intense matches of tennis and, hang out with his friends. All of these things help him through the rigorous stress of academics. Matt's future is still unclear, but he knows college will be a definite first step.

TOM MILLER

Tom Miller lives in Kensington, California, and is a Junior at El Cerrito High School. He does not know what career lies ahead of him, but he has a passion for politics, theater, and working with children. In his spare time he enjoys performing and directing youth plays and musicals, mountain biking, and yoga.

DYANA SO

As an active junior around Pinole Valley High School, Dyana So takes part in many extracurriculars - from being secretary to the Forensics Speech and Debate Team to being Editor-in-Chief of the Literary Magazine. She has a passion to learn and a passion to lead. Dyana also likes to draw, travel, and sing.